Feb 1, 2015 - ... by the nation's wired and wireless providers in modern, high-speed broadband networks. President Obama
HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES February 2015
Study #11518--page 1 Net Neutrality National Survey
1724 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 234-5570
Interviews: 800 adults Dates: February 13-15, 2015
FINAL
48 Male 52 Female [109]
Study #11518 Net Neutrality National Survey February 2015 Please note: all results are shown as percentages unless otherwise stated.
S1.
Does anyone in this household work for a radio station, a television station, a newspaper, an advertising agency, a market research firm, or a telecommunications company? No .................................................... Yes................................................... Not sure .........................................
100 -
CONTINUE TERMINATE
[137]
Now thinking about something else... 1.
When it comes to government oversight and regulation of the Internet, which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view? The government should take a stronger and more active role in overseeing and regulating the Internet ................................................ The government should NOT take a stronger and more active role in overseeing and regulating the Internet ................................................ Not sure .................................................................................................
2ab.
33
[142]
56 11
Are you familiar with the term Net Neutrality and do you know what it refers to? (IF “YES,” ASK:) Are you very familiar or somewhat familiar with the term Net Neutrality? Yes, Familiar With Term And Know What It Refers To Very familiar.................................................................................. Somewhat familiar ........................................................................ No, not familiar with the term and do not know what it refers to ..... Not sure ......................................................................................
[143-144]
11 14 74 1
(ASK ONLY OF RESPONDENTS WHO SAY YES IN Q.2a.) 2c. How do you feel about Net Neutrality--positive, neutral, negative, or do you have no feelings at all? Positive feelings ......................................................................................... Neutral feelings .......................................................................................... Negative feelings ....................................................................................... No feelings at all......................................................................................... Not sure.................................................................................................... No, not familiar with the term and do not know what it refers to (Q.2ab) ....
10 6 4 4 1 75
[145]
HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES February 2015
3.
Over the past twenty-two years, the Internet has developed and grown into what we have today, with little government oversight, and has resulted in major private investment by the nation's wired and wireless providers in modern, high-speed broadband networks. President Obama is now proposing that the federal government regulate and oversee the Internet similar to how it oversees the electric or gas public utility industry. Specifically, President Obama proposes allowing the Federal Communications Commission, for the first time, to regulate the Internet with the same authority it has used in the past to regulate monopoly telephone service. Do you think this would be more helpful or more harmful? Helpful .............................................. Harmful ............................................. Some of both (VOL)........................ Not sure ..........................................
4.
32 53 6 9
[146]
Are you aware that the term Net Neutrality does not include any government effort to protect consumers against spam and malware on the Internet? Yes, aware........................................ No, not aware .................................. Not sure .........................................
5.
Study #11518--page 2 Net Neutrality National Survey
25 73 2
[147]
Now I am going to read you several reasons why some people oppose the proposal for government regulation and control of the Internet. For each of the following, please tell me whether you consider this to be a major concern, a minor concern, or not a concern for you. THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE WHO SAY MAJOR CONCERN
Major Concern The government will impose additional taxes and/or fees on all Internet bills ....... 66 Reduced broadband investment may have an impact on domestic job growth and economic expansion ....................................................................................... 43 America could lose its position as the leader in Internet innovation and development as a result of new Internet regulations ............................................. 41 Existing Internet services provided by leading Silicon Valley Internet companies may be reduced and terminated, which ultimately would hurt consumers ............................................................................................................. 40 Innovation may be inhibited because Internet entrepreneurs will potentially be less likely to invest with the new Net Neutrality rules and regulations. .................. 36
Some Concern 19
Not A Concern For You 13
Not Sure 2
[149]
27
26
4
[153]
29
27
3
[152]
30
26
4
[151]
31
28
5
[150]
HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES February 2015
6.
One principal concern raised by some people is that ONLY the five members of an unelected Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, will decide the future of the Internet without providing an opportunity for the public to see and understand the regulations prior to a vote. Opponents of the Internet regulation plan to seek public disclosure of the exact rules and specific regulations prior to the FCC's official vote. These groups say that, given the importance of the Internet in the daily lives of Americans, the FCC should provide greater information about the proposal to regulate the Internet to better understand its costs and benefits. Do you feel that greater disclosure of information by the FCC is necessary or do you feel that this proposal has been discussed and debated by all the major parties and this decision should be decided by the FCC? Greater disclosure is necessary ...... Should be decided by the FCC ......... Not sure .........................................
7.
[154]
73 17 10
Would you favor or oppose that the exact wording and the details of the proposal to regulate the Internet be made public before the Federal Communications Commission is allowed to cast its final vote on the issue of Net Neutrality? Favor ................................................ Oppose ............................................. Not sure ..........................................
8.
Study #11518--page 3 Net Neutrality National Survey
[155]
79 13 8
Based on what you know about this issue, would you favor the FCC passing this regulation now as it currently stands, prefer to delay it until the full wording is made public, or not pass the regulation at all? Favor passing this regulation now as it currently stands ................................... Prefer to delay passing this regulation until the full wording is made public ....... Not pass the regulation at all .............................................................................. Not sure ............................................................................................................
9 60 25 6
FACTUALS: Now I am going to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes only. F1.
What is the last grade that you completed in school? Grade school .......................................................... Some high school .................................................... High school graduate ............................................... Some college, no degree ......................................... Vocational training/2-year college ............................ 4-year college/bachelor's degree ............................ Some postgraduate work, no degree ...................... 2 or 3 years' postgraduate work/master's degree .... Doctoral/law degree ................................................ Not sure/refused ...................................................
1 5 25 20 9 22 3 9 4 2
[157-158]
[156]
HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES February 2015
F2.
Which of the following categories best represents your total household income last year? Would it be less than thirty thousand dollars, between thirty thousand dollars and forty-nine thousand nine hundred ninetynine dollars, between fifty thousand dollars and seventy-four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars, between seventy-five thousand dollars and ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars, between one hundred thousand dollars and one hundred forty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars, or one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more? Less than $30,000 ............................ $30,000 to $49,999........................... $50,000 to $74,999........................... $75,000 to $99,999........................... $100,000 to $124,999 ....................... $125,000 to $149,999....................... $150,000 or more ............................ Prefer not to say ............................... Not sure .........................................
F3.
Study #11518--page 4 Net Neutrality National Survey
18 14 18 13 14 3 3 13 4
Do you have a landline home telephone only, a cell phone only, or do you have both a landline home phone and cell phone? Have a landline/home phone only ......................................... Have a cell phone only ........................................................... Have both a landline/home phone and cell phone ................. Not sure ..............................................................................
F4a.
[160]
18 23 33 14 7 5
[161]
Regardless of how you may be registered, how would you describe your overall point of view in terms of the political parties? Mostly Democratic ........................... Leaning Democratic .......................... Completely independent .................. Leaning Republican ......................... Mostly Republican ........................... Not sure .........................................
F5.
10 25 62 3
Thinking about your general approach to issues, do you consider yourself to be very conservative, somewhat conservative, middle of the road, somewhat liberal, or very liberal? Very conservative ............................. Somewhat conservative .................. Middle of the road ............................ Somewhat liberal ............................. Very liberal ....................................... Not sure .........................................
F4b.
[159]
27 12 23 9 22 7
[162]
Finally, would you describe the area that you live in as an urban area, a suburban area, a small town, or a rural area? Urban ................................................ Suburban ......................................... Small town ........................................ Rural ................................................ Not sure .........................................
19 35 26 15 5
[163]
HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES February 2015
F6.
For statistical purposes only, would you please tell me how old you are? (IF REFUSED, ASK:) Well, would you tell me which age group you belong to? 18-24 ................................................ 25-29 ................................................ 30-34 ................................................ 35-39 ................................................ 40-44 ................................................ 45-49 ................................................ 50-54 ................................................ 55-59 ................................................ 60-64 ................................................ 65-69 ................................................ 70-74 ................................................ 75 and over ...................................... Refused ..........................................
F7a.
Study #11518--page 5 Net Neutrality National Survey
10 9 11 8 8 7 10 9 10 6 6 6 -
[138-139]
For statistical purposes only, and to ensure that we have a representative sample, are you from a Hispanic or Spanish-speaking background? Yes, from Hispanic/Spanish-speaking background ............... No, not from Hispanic/Spanish-speaking background ........... Not sure ...............................................................................
F7b.
12 87 1
And what is your race--white, African American or black, Asian, or something else? White ............................................... African American/black .................... Asian ................................................ Other ............................................... Not sure .........................................
77 12 1 8 2
[141]
[140]
